Risk: Factions Review

There have been countless variations of this basic gameplay over the years: Castle Risk, Risk: 2210 AD, Lord of the Rings Risk, Risk: Godstorm, Risk: Star Wars, and even Risk: Transformers. There have also been numerous computer and console versions of the game. So how was Stainless Games supposed to come up with something new to add to the franchise?

The answer was to implement new objective-based gameplay and wrap it all up in a wacky package of zany animation and themed opponents. Cat armies? Check. Zombie armies? Check. Yeti armies? Check! While Risk purists may be getting migraines right about now from rolling their eyes, the intent of Risk: Factions was never to replicate the classic board game. Instead, it

Meet the New Risk, Same As the Old Risk?

The gameplay twist in Risk: Factions is pretty simple. At any time during the match you can access a list of five objectives. The player who achieves three of these objectives and retains control of their capital city wins the game. Objectives range from controlling a specific territory, to owning three bunkers (a bonus defensive building placed in certain territories), to tougher challenges like taking over seven territories in one turn. Achieving an objective gives you a bonus and also prevents any other player from getting credit for that objective. Thus a large part of the game

Along with this twist are some minor gameplay enhancements that can change the course of play. On one map, for instance, you can take control of a missile silo which grants you offensive bonuses such as an extra offensive die in any territory under its influence. Another map contains a dam which can be opened by any player controlling both sides of it

If you

Kill Them With Laughter

The presentation of Risk: Factions fares a bit better than the actual gameplay. Presented in an over-the-top animation style reminiscent of the old Ren & Stimpy cartoons, the factions are introduced via humorous cutscenes in the single player campaign. Maps are heavily stylized fictional landmasses, and die rolls are represented with sequences showing troops battling each other. The little touches in these vignettes are quite good